Music charities thank Hove People's Postcode Lottery winners

This comes after a community in Hove shared a £3million prize pot this weekend, thanks to their postcode being drawn as a winner by People’s Postcode Lottery.

The event, held at Hove Lawns, saw winners who played in postcode sector BN3 5 presented with their cheques by Lottery ambassador Jeff Brazier.

National music charity Youth Music thanked and congratulated players of People’s Postcode Lottery from Hove on their win in this month’s Postcode Millions, as the charity supports 350 music projects around the country for young people in challenging circumstances, including those in Brighton and Hove.

Local projects include music programmes run by the learning disability led arts organisation Carousel and music organisation AudioActive.

Carousel offers workshops for young musicians including composition and skills, led by learning-disabled artists. It has nurtured and developed Carousel Chorus, a group of local aspiring learning disabled singers, supported by the Carousel House Band. The singers showcase their music regularly at their monthly gig, The Rock House, along with learning disabled artists from around the UK.

The Rock House was celebrated with its first day long festival at The Green Door Store this weekend. The innovative festival united learning disabled and non-learning disabled musicians.

Support from Youth Music and players of People’s Postcode Lottery last year enabled Sabien Gator, a band of the young learning disabled musicians to create Creatures of the Revolution, a song-story that saw the band performing live against video projection and film. Creatures of the Revolution toured around the country with shows in Plymouth, London, Brighton and Hove.

Sabien Gator singer Stephen Barnett said: “I think it was the best thing we’ve done so far. It’s been great travelling to the shows and playing new places.”

Gareth Evans, senior music producer at Carousel said: “The support we have received from players of People’s Postcode Lottery and Youth Music has helped over 130 young learning disabled people in Brighton and Hove to access music making in 2016. It has allowed us to reach people who otherwise would not have the opportunity to enjoy all the wonderful things that music offers, exploring their creative voice and expression, bonding with other musicians, showcasing their talent and much more.

"It has meant that more young learning disabled musicians in the city are starting their musical journeys and are receiving the support they need to become embedded in the wider music scene, celebrated for their talent and achievements. We are enormously grateful to Youth Music and players of People’s Postcode Lottery for making this possible.”

Another music project benefiting from support from Youth Music and players of People’s Postcode Lottery is Brighton-based AudioActive.

AudioActive provides a range of music making activities for young people in the most challenging circumstances to progress their lives by bringing the latest music technology together with elements of contemporary urban culture. The organisation sees music as a tool for social change, education and personal development. It runs 'Sessions', a city-wide programme including targeted weekly sessions, with one to one mentoring where needed, for young people struggling in mainstream education secondary schools in Hove. The mentoring helps them build up their confidence and social relationships so they can take part in music-making activities in a supportive and collaborative group setting.

Adam Joolia, AudioActive's CEO described how one young person benefited from mentoring: “The one-to-one mentoring aspect to the project has really helped to make sure that the Sessions programme is accessible to those most in need. We’ve recently had teachers drop in to one young person’s mentoring session regularly because it’s the only place they see him smile! The young participant was at risk of being excluded from school but we’re delighted that he has recently started attending our weekly group session in Hove. The Sessions programme has many strands across the city and we are also working really hard to create a 'community of communities' that is supporting a vibrant new music scene whose young members are thriving both musically and personally. We’re really grateful to Youth Music and players of People’s Postcode Lottery for their support.”

AudioActive was the birthplace of popular hip-hop duo Rizzle Kicks featuring Jordan Stephens and Harley Alexander-Sule. Since producing two albums, both have taken on acting roles with Stephens starring in the latest Star Wars Movie ‘Rogue One’.

Matt Griffiths, CEO of Youth Music said: “I congratulate all of today's winners and thank them for their support. Players may not realise that by playing People's Postcode Lottery, they are supporting young people in Hove, Brighton and across the region who face significant challenges in their lives. We want all children to have the opportunity to make music, regardless of background, economic circumstances or lifelong health conditions. We’re incredibly grateful for the support we get from players of People’s Postcode Lottery to help us achieve this.”

Clara Govier, head of charities at People’s Postcode Lottery said: “It’s wonderful to see the impact money raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery is having in Brighton, Hove and beyond. Many of the young people Youth Music is supporting face difficult challenges in their lives and it’s great to see the help they are getting through music to move their lives forward is having tangible benefits. It goes to show that the wonderful support players give to organisations such as Youth Music can be life-changing.”